The Hospital of the Future is Not a Hospital

"Our customer understands that healthcare is moving more toward healthcare outside a facility," says Arndt. "That means more money is being invested in health information technology. Also, you see more constellation or satellite projects, for example, a small 15,000-20,000 square-foot clinic in a neighborhood. That allows patients to travel a shorter distance to a less congested environment, but yet allows connection to the bigger facility if needed."

Modular construction is a trend that Arndt sees developing quickly. It's in the process of designing a clinic for a client that will feature modular walls, to make it more flexible for the changes in care protocols that are assured, but that healthcare's leaders aren't sure how will ultimately affect their competitive offerings.

In one clinic, doctors want to be able to meet with patients in groups, for example. Modular walls mean physicians can occasionally meet with groups of patients instead of individually, or vice-versa. Their space is less limiting.

"The clinic can adapt," says Arndt.

Prefabricating buildings is also gaining steam in healthcare, he says.

"Money is being invested much more wisely than it has been in the past," he says. "For the design/construction field, we have to be more lean too."